If you believe you've been the victim of a scam, contact any of the three credit reporting bureaus and have them place an alert on your account, which will stay in place for 90 days. TransUnion, Equifax and Experian all report to one another, so there's no need to contact all of them.

PHOTO: Simon Cunningham/Flickr

5 of 7

File a police report

File a report with your local police department. Many credit card companies ask for proof of theft to reverse unwanted charges. If local police tell you that identity theft isn't a crime within their jurisdiction, fill out a Miscellaneous Incident Report.

PHOTO: AP

6 of 7

Monitor all bank and credit card accounts

Check all online or paper statements regularly. Look for transactions you don't recognize.

If you believe you've been the victim of a scam, contact any of the three credit reporting bureaus and have them place an alert on your account, which will stay in place for 90 days. TransUnion, Equifax and Experian all report to one another, so there's no need to contact all of them.

PHOTO: Simon Cunningham/Flickr

File a police report

File a report with your local police department. Many credit card companies ask for proof of theft to reverse unwanted charges. If local police tell you that identity theft isn't a crime within their jurisdiction, fill out a Miscellaneous Incident Report.

PHOTO: AP

Monitor all bank and credit card accounts

Check all online or paper statements regularly. Look for transactions you don't recognize.

If you believe you've been the victim of a scam, contact any of the three credit reporting bureaus and have them place an alert on your account, which will stay in place for 90 days. TransUnion, Equifax and Experian all report to one another, so there's no need to contact all of them.

PHOTO: Simon Cunningham/Flickr

File a police report

File a report with your local police department. Many credit card companies ask for proof of theft to reverse unwanted charges. If local police tell you that identity theft isn't a crime within their jurisdiction, fill out a Miscellaneous Incident Report.

PHOTO: AP

Monitor all bank and credit card accounts

Check all online or paper statements regularly. Look for transactions you don't recognize.

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Don't respond, authorities say. The seemingly-innocent phone call tricks victims into saying "yes." The person on the other end then records that person's response and uses it to authorize unwanted charges on his or her utility bills and credit cards.

How does the scam work? The con artist already has your phone number, and possibly your credit card number or an electricity bill. If you call your credit card or utility company to fight sketchy charges, it can be argued that you already gave verbal consent.

This isn't the only scam that's making its rounds. PA Law Help says that dishonest callers have been caught posing as debt collectors and tech support specialists. Some even call from fake sweepstakes companies, telling residents they've won large amounts of cash.

Worried about receiving a suspicious phone call? Here's how to protect yourself from becoming a victim - and what to do if you've been scammed.